Door and gate latch.



N. A. ARCHIBALD.

DOOR AND GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION HLED APR-16. 1915.

l 1 97, 5 8 5 Patented Sept. 12, 1916 Witnesses AMA/Zfijfia Inventor 0 Attorneys 'nrrrrnn @ll l lltlde NEVIN A. ARCHIBALD, OF CONCORD, NGRTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF T0 LUTHER E. BOGER, OF CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA.

DOOR AND GATE LATCH.

Application filed April 16, 1915.

' adapted to cooperate with the latch-bar of the door or gate to lock said closures in their closed position.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple latch which is capable of ready application to a door or gate post and having its component members so constructed as to insure the positive operation of the latch member under all conditions to which devices of this type are usually subjected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch of general improved construction, whereby the device will be durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and eili cient in its use.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmental front elevation of a gate and fence construction with the invention shown applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the fence construction depicting the invention in elevation; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention; Fig. 1- is a perspec tive view 01 the securing bracket; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the gravity latch member.

In the accompanying drawings the letter G designates an ordinary gate'construction, P a gate post and B a latch bar of usual construction.

The latch comprises a bracket which includes longitudinal side walls or bars 1, end walls 2 and 3 which define a longitudinal slot 4, whose outer end wall 2 is beveled to provide an inwardly projecting shoulder A threaded member 6 is formed integral. with and extends longitudinally from the end wall of the bracket, to threadedly sccure the said bracket member to the fence post 1 In order to provide a gravity latch, there is provided a substantially triangular plate 7 which is pivotally mounted within the lon- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1316.

Serial No. 21,731.

gitudinal slot 4 adjacent the outer end wall 2', as indicated at 8. A relatively thick handle or manipulating member 9 is formed at the top of the plate 7, said handle being provided with a base member 10, which together with the plate 7 define laterally extending longitudinal shoulders 11 that are adapted to engage the upper edge of the bars 1 to limit the downward oscillation of the gravity latch. To limit the upward movement or oscillation of the latch, the base of the handle 9 is provided with a broad transverse undercut shoulder 12, ad jacent the pivot 8. The triangular plate 7 is provided with an aperture 13 for the reception of the shank of an ordinary padlock L.

In practical operation the threaded mem her 6 of the bracket is screwed into the gate post so that the gravity latch plate 7 will normally lie in the path of travel of the latch bar B. The gate in closing causes its latch-bar B to engage the inclined edge of the triangular plate 7 thereby lifting or oscillating same, sufficient to allow the latch bar B to pass under the plate 7 whereupon the latch will gravitate to its normal position, or until the shoulders 11 engage the upper edge of the bars 1, which, obviously, prevents any further downward movement of the latch. Now, the latch bar is trapped between the gate post P and the latch plate 7, so that the gate can only be opened by manually raising the latch which may be accomplished by manii 'n'ilating the handle 9.

The handle 9 and base 10 provide a counter-weight for the latch, which is desirable in devices of this type inasmuch as the dirt or other extraneous matter which would or dinarily accumulate in the slot 4 to impede the free operation of the latch member within said slot, would be removed by said latch member, owing to the added impetus imparted to it by the countcrweight.

Should the gate be violently closed the latch member would, in event no limiting means were provided, be thrown upwardly about its pivot 8 with suflicient "force as to cause the triangular plate 7 oi: the latch to leave the slot 4: and remain in inoperative position due to its center of gravity being transferred to the opposite or outer side of the pivot 8.

This ditliculty, however, is obviated in the present invention by providing the shoulder 12, which is adapted to engage the shoulder 5 to thereby limit the upward oscillation of latch member. By this arrangement it will be observed that the triangular plate 7 of the pivoted latch member is held constantly within the slot 4c of the bracket member.

Having thus described my invention what is claimed as new, is

A latch including a. bracket having a longitudinal slot formed therein; a threaded securing member formed integral with and extending longitudinally from the bracket; a shoulder extending inwardly from that end of the bracket which is remote from the threaded securing member, and extending into the said longitudinal slot, the entire upper face of the shoulder lying in the same plane with the upper terminal of the bracket; a latch member pivotally secured to the said bracket and adjacent the said shoulder; a laterally enlarged manipulating handle formed at the upper terminal of the latch and adapted to provide a counterweight therefor, to insure the gravity actuation of the said latch the lower terminal of the manipulating handle adapted to cooperate with the upper face of the bracket to limit the downward movement of the latch member; a transverse oblique shoulder formed on the said manipulating handle, the entire face of this shoulder adapted to simultaneously engage the upper face of the said bracket shoulder to limit the upward movement of the latch member about its pivot.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NEVIN A. ARCHIBALD.

Witnesses CARRIE PETREA,

W. G. CiiswnLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

